October 18 Reflections

I am a writer. I like to start each piece with a killer sentence. Something that will shock you, something that will grab your attention. Something you will resonate with. I could start this piece with a line about one of our first nights here and our first experience with a tornado warning...the fear, the intimidation of it, the respect for it and our longing to return to all that was comfortable. I could start this with a line about the emotion we had driving out of Portland for the last time - emotion so intense, there wasn't a bodily function to express it. I could write about the disappointment we felt after attending our first church service here - knowing we were totally under dressed and lonely and would be lonely for another week. I could write about the excitement we felt the first night we went out to dinner with a couple and came away feeling like we had met new friends. I could write about the fresh air that I walked in each morning or the intense humidity that greeted me when I opened the door on a mid-summer morning. I could talk about the joy we felt when Danielle was offered a job at the church. You get the point by now. This isn't about one event or one story, this about many stories and many lessons we have learned in our first year in Nashville.

The Lord brought us to this place. It's not perfect, it's not a place I would have picked - it's a place he picked and he chose us as imperfect people to be part of . We struggled at times this last year. The first couple months were hard. We felt lonely, scared, longing for friends and longing for a place that felt like home. But through it all, we knew this was his plan and what would evolve would not be what we wanted or how we planned, but what we he wanted and what he planned. I remember waking up several mornings wondering what we were doing here. All I knew is that he wanted us here and he would allow things to happen that regularly reminded us of that truth. It took time, but we became content in it. He taught us to believe in ways we never had, to love each other in ways we didn't know we could and he is delivering his plan to us step-by-step...which is better than anything we could have imagined ourselves.

It's only fitting to recap what a year it has been and give our great God the praise for what he is doing in Nashville and how he using this place and the people here to challenge us and grow us. Our first experience with storms happened about 48 hours after we arrived. We lived through it and lived through many more. We have learned what clouds to fear, what clouds to ignore, we have seen the sky pitch black in the middle of the day and felt the power of the fierce winds and intense humidity in the middle of the night. In the winter, we got to experience one of Nashville's worst snowfalls in many years. There were several major snow events (more than 2 inches) this year which is much more than the city normally gets. We learned here that driving in the snow here means stopping on hills and tailgating the person in front of you - no matter how much ice may be on the road! The spring was wonderful with warm weather early plus a few storms. The summer brought heat and humidity that Ryan loved and Danielle preferred to avoid. We experienced Cicadas. Giant and very loud bugs that appear once every 13 years. They weren't the only bugs we saw, we also saw some big spiders along some of our favorite walking trails. Throughout this year, I have been reminded God has a since of humor and I think he's using us and our experiences to entertain him!

Enough with the weather, here's the good stuff! We have seen more of this incredible country than we ever imagined! On our way here, we drove through Idaho, Utah, Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, Illinois and Kentucky. In the Spring, Danielle and I got away for a few days in Atlanta. In the Summer, we visited friends in Springfield, Missouri and spent a day in Branson, time in Memphis, Louisville and Indianapolis. During a visit with Danielle's parents, we visited a space museum in Huntsville, Alabama. We have seen countless places around Nashville and appreciated so much of this nation's great history.

Our family has been a huge support to us. Both sets of our parents visited, Ryan's Grandparents spent time with us as did Danielle's brother. Their support through this year has been wonderful and so special. I wouldn't be telling the truth if I said we haven't missed watching our niece and nephew grow up. Even during the toughest moments, I have to remember that God brought us to this place and wants us here. I can't begin to tell you what an assurance this truth has been - and one we believe will hold up until he moves us somewhere else.

Our friends! What a special gift. The first couple we met was a couple a little older than our parents. Dave and Reba have been so wonderful. They invited us to church and we soon started attending there, they helped us get involved at church and have had us over for dinner numerous times. This has been a very special relationship that we are so thankful for. They really have been a gift from God - especially during the first few months here when we felt alone.

We got plugged in to a Sunday School at church. Danielle was sick the first Sunday so Ryan went alone. I was terrified, but so glad I went. That first week, another couple came for the first time. Over time, we became friends with them. We met another couple as well that we became instantly close with. They were in our lives for a short period of time before moving to Missouri for work, but we all remain close friends and talk several times a week. We have visited them and had many great conversations. We have become close with another couple as well. This is in addition to several other relationships we now have. Ryan meets with a group of guys for coffee every other Friday and Danielle has several friends she meets with on a regular basis.

Our jobs! Yep, the Lord is providing! Ryan's job is going well. I continue to grow and learn new things. I am managing a group of about 80 people. They stretch me, drive me crazy, make me laugh and do great work! They are a group of hard-working people - and let me say, the Lord is alive in this newsroom! God is working on the hearts of people here and there are a number of believers praying for non-believers. It is an exciting thing to be part of.

Danielle came here without a job. We didn't know if she would work or if she would volunteer. She started volunteering for a pastor at our church. Over time, she was offered her dream job with the Youth Ministry. She plans many of the events and is an administrative assistant to the High School Pastor. She also coordinates volunteers to work at the front desk. She is really enjoying it and people are loving here! I can brag, I am her husband! A lady came up to me a couple of Sundays ago and wanted me to know how much people appreciate my wife. She went on to tell me that Danielle keeps things organized and truly shows that she cares for people. It is so exciting to see the Lord using Danielle in this area.

We have been having so much fun experiencing new things. From new restaurants, to pumpkin patches, new stores, new towns and new adventures. This place is truly a special place to us.

As I reflect on this year, I am thankful. God is taking care of us and meeting our needs in more ways than we could imagine. He is paving the way for us. I look back on the past 12 months and have a hard time accepting all that has happened because it truly has been so much. We believed when we began dating that God would move us somewhere. We felt and emptiness and a longing for him to do more with our lives. My friends and family, he is doing it. We are full and satisfied with what is taking place each day. God is changing us and allowing us to be challenged and grow in new ways. We don't know what happens next, but we know he is leading the way. We are so thankful for so many people who have prayed for us and encouraged us along this journey. This is an exciting time in our history and we look forward to the future he has planned for us.

-Ryan

Also, today is our 3 year Anniversary!

Is it really October?

Where has the time gone?? I feel like it was just the beginning of summer, and here we are..October!

It seems that so much has been happening in the Hawes House. And we are looking forward to so much.

First, for those who don't know...my "sprained" knee turned out to be a torn ACL. Which means Surgery. That happens in November...I am a little nervous to be honest. We have been told the recovery can take a while and the physical therapy is intense. I am thankful for Ryan who will take good care of me!

My parents were here in August. We had such a great time visiting with them. We went to Carnton Plantation, Opryland, Jack Daniel's, Huntsville and so much more. It was so wonderful seeing them. We hadn't seen them since Christmas.

Speaking of visitors, my brother also came for a visit. I loved just chilling with him. I have missed that guy!

Work has been crazy good for both Ryan and I. For me, the school year has started up. We started our small groups and activities for the year! It is so much fun. I love my job so much! I work with great people, and my small group is pretty awesome. Love those girls! We are in the midst of busy season. Back to back events...and I am so excited. Currently I am planning our Halloween Bash, and it's going to be so great! And scary (yikes)! Ryan is loving is his job! They just launched their new set and it looks awesome! So proud of him and how hard he works.

Speaking of Ryan...we are nearing his birthday. But I will post more about that later! With that, we are going to go see the Colts (my team) beat the Chiefs (Ryan's team). We cannot wait!

We are also getting ready to celebrate three years of marriage! I cannot believe it has been three years. I so love being married to Ryan. We have so much fun!

Well, I just wanted to share a brief recap on our lives the past couple of months. I really should try and do this more often!

Leadership

Leadership is a great thing. Being in a position of leadership can be a very painful thing.
One of the rewarding things I get to do is build into future leaders. I think every leader wants future leaders to learn from their mistakes.
I have a different approach that requires a lot less talking and a lot more living. My goal is to let leaders make mistakes and be there for them when they do.
Just like I need to make mistakes, future leaders need to make them too. They don't need someone to tell them what they did wrong, they need someone to tell them
what to do when you're at rock bottom and there's no one around to pick you up. Do something different today. Invest in a leader. Let them make mistakes, lots of them - then be there for them when no one else is.
Remind them that part of being a leader is making a mistake. Don't talk about your mistakes. They don't matter. Listen to what they did and patiently (and quietly) let them discover success.
I assure you this will be an example of a leader they want to model. Remember, some of the most influential people say some of the fewest words.

-Ryan

Story of Us

I didn't intend to steal the title of this blog from Taylor Swift...but it fits.

It was four years ago today Ryan and I met for the first time. I thought this would be a good time to share our story (thus far). I know many of you know it already, but hey, it's my blog and I like to tell it! :)

A little over four years ago I moved in with my friend Kristine. She was planning a mission trip with Ryan. I had been hearing about him all year. When we lived together, she kept trying to set me up on a date with him. We tried. And failed. We had a plan to go on a double date with her and her boyfriend. Ryan finally resorted to emailing me.

Our emails started off filled with questions and answers. We really jumped in and started to get to know each other. After his second email to me, I called my Mom and told her I thought I was going to marry this man. After a month of emailing, and eventually phone calls, we finally both were free to meet.

Which brings us to four years ago today. Our first date. I was so nervous and so excited! We went to Cafe Mingo near 23rd in Portland. We sat outside and enjoyed a rare, beautiful summer night. The conversation was easy. We had a great time. I was still nervous though. During diner a bug had flown into my wine. So instead of telling Ryan (I knew he would want to get me a new glass) I just kept drinking around the bug...well a little while later, Ry said he had a bug in his glass and I exclaimed "oh, me too". It wasn't until later in our relationship I told him I had the bug in mine for a while. We still laugh about it!

We began to spend more time together. During that first week, I was formally offered a job in Olympia at a church. This had been in the works before I even met Ryan. We went to the beach a week after our first date. I remember sitting at restaurant and Ryan asking me if dating long-distance was "worth it?". I was a little upset. Here we had just started to date, and he was breaking up with me? Thankfully he thought it through and didn't end our relationship there.

Sure enough, a couple weeks later I moved. Thus beginning our long-distance relationship. He would come to Yelm 3 weekends a month. I would go to Portland one. Not to mention every Sunday I would head to Portland for school. Thankfully we had some great friends who let me stay with them during this time.

That October Ryan and I had "the talk". Where was this going? I knew. He knew. But we hadn't talked about it. It was in October he told me he wanted to marry me. Well, I had figured that and knew the date I wanted to get married. So I said, oh good me too. How about October 18 next year? He said sure! :) We did talk that we wouldn't plan a wedding, talk about getting married, or anything related until he proposed. That was so hard!

I didn't have to wait long. December 15, 2007 just four months after we dated, Ryan proposed. We had plans to go out to a nice dinner. It was supposed to be at the Space Needle, but that changed to Portland City Grill. I was suspicious, but he had told me not on or before Christmas. In fact, I had talked to my friend Tiffany that morning and she asked if he was going to propose, I said I don't think so.

We went to dinner. The whole time I kept wondering. Will the ring be in my champagne? Will this family with kids (who brings kids to that fancy of a place?) leave so he can get on a knee? Nothing. It was more awkward than our first date!

We headed to Pioneer Square. He was acting weird. He kept looking around. I thought he was looking for a friend who was taking pictures. Turns out he was looking for a horse-drawn carriage. When he couldn't wait anymore, he kneeled under the 75ft. Christmas tree and asked me to marry him. I of course, said yes.

Ten months later on October 18, 2008 we were married. A mere 14 months from when we went on that first date. I know that doesn't sound like much time, but we felt it was right for us. And we had our families blessing from the beginning.

I can't believe it has been four years. Four amazing years. We have changed so much in that time. We have traveled. Moved. Adopted a cat. Become an Aunt and Uncle. Lived. Loved. Loss. Gained. Struggled. Rejoiced. And we have become stronger because of it.

I am so lucky to be married to such an amazing man. Happy 4 years together hubby. I love you!

Christ has Risen

In June I was able to attend our Beach Camp! It was a great time. Our worship band was amazing! They sang a couple songs I just loved. I only remember them singing "Christ has Risen" once. I didn't think much of it, because I didn't know it. I have since added all the songs from camp to my ipod. And this one has become a new favorite. I have been listening to it over and over and over again. So, I thought I would share it with you.

Christ has Risen by Matt Maher
Let no one caught in sin remain
Inside the lie of inward shame
But fix our eyes upon the cross
And run to Him who showed great love
And bled for us
Freely You've bled for us

Christ is risen from the dead
Trampling over death by death
Come awake, come awake
Come and rise up from the grave
Christ is risen from the dead
We are one with Him again
Come awake, come awake
Come and rise up from the grave

Beneath the weight of all our sin
You bowed to none but heaven's will
No scheme of hell, no scoffer's crown
No burden great can hold You down
In strength You reign
Forever let Your church proclaim

O death, where is your sting?
O hell, where is your victory?
O church, come stand in the light
The glory of God has defeated the night

O death, where is your sting?
O hell, where is your victory?
O church, come stand in the light
Our God is not dead
He's alive! He's alive!

Springfield Trip

I am a blogger slacker. At least on this blog! But we have been BUSY! I feel like summer is flying by. I cannot believe we are already in the middle of July. I must confess, I am ready for fall. This 90 degree + weather is driving me nuts. I have never liked the heat, then you add humidity. Yeah, that's fun. I am more thankful for AC than ever before!

Back in June we were able to go visit our good friends Dennis and Katie! They moved to Springfield in May. We were so excited to see them and experience their life. Boy, we had a great time. We ate a lot, drove a lot, and played a lot! We spent a day in Branson. Oh my! So fun! We are so blessed to have these friends in our life! Here are a few photos from our trip to see them:

Ryan and I at the Fantastic Caverns


Inside the Fantastic Caverns


Katie and I at Ripleys. Largest ball of string.


Riding the Ducks!


Ryan with his quacker...annoying!


The Duck in the water...scared me!


Katie!


Lunch in Branson. It was awesome.


Thank you again Dennis and Katie for such a fun trip! We can't wait for our next adventure! :)

Singleness

I know, I am married. Why am I writing about singleness? Because, I once was single. For the past few years, the majority of my friends have been married people. But now, I am friends with some non-marrieds. And I love that. But it has got me thinking about a time in my life where I struggled. Where I thought I would never meet "the one". And when I learned and grew so much through that struggle.

I was one of those girls who had so many married friends around her, telling her they understood the struggle. I never believed them, they were after all, already married. But for me, I still remember. It was only 4 short years ago, I was struggling with being single.

I remember four or five years ago sitting with a friend talking about contentment while being single. She asked me how it was that I was ok with it, knowing my desire to be a wife. I told her, "I bought a bed".

I can explain. But first, let me go back a little ways. I never really dated. I had one or two "boyfriends" that never lasted more than a couple weeks. I liked a lot of boys. But that was it. None of them liked me back. So when I left for college, I thought that maybe, I would meet someone. I was after all attending Multnomah "Bridal" College. Where the saying was "ring by spring, or your money back". Or instead of "if it's Bible you want, then you want Multnomah" it was "if its a bride you want, then you want Multnomah". I thought surely I would meet him at school. Well, five (I did go to grad school there) springs came and went, with no ring. And I am still waiting for that money! :) My Senior year, one of my good friends was in a pretty serious relationship. I remember talking to her about this struggle of contentment in singleness. She told me to focus on Truth. You know the verse that says, "Whatever is true...pure..noble...think on these things" (Phil. 4:8). So I did. I started focusing on truth in relationships, and on the truth of my relationship with Christ.

For the next year or so I really began to ponder these things. To ponder singleness. I began to change my mind set. Instead of worrying if I would ever find that guy, I began living my life. I made some choices. I decided I was going to go to Grad. School. I was going to work at a church. I was going to buy a bed.
(Here's the bed story: see I had always thought, that when I got married is when I was going to get a "big" bed, so buying a new bed, a big bed, meant I was thinking I may never get married) I began to live my life as if I was going to be single for a long time. Sure, I had hard days. Being a bridesmaid 5 times is not easy when you have a strong desire to be the bride. But it worked. I was loving life. I was happy. Content.

So much so, that when my friend Kristine first suggested four years ago, that I go on a blind date. I almost said no. I knew I might be moving "home". I was happy. Like I said, I ALMOST said no. I am glad I didn't. Because it was four years ago when Ryan and I first started thinking of going on a blind date. It was in July that we finally started emailing. And in August, I met him for the first time.

I don't want to say that when you are finally content being single, God will bring a man (or woman) into your life. I don't think there is a formula. I just know that for me, I needed that time of singleness. I had to walk that journey. I had to learn to Love God first, and trust in His Truth before I was the one ready for Ryan.

Some going ons.

I love my job. I love the students (the few I know). I love what I do. It's truly a great fit for me.

There are a few reasons I love(well, that's a strong word, ENJOY) living in the South. Sweet tea. Southern Accents. Chick-fil-a. The history. Our church. Our friends. And a few reasons I don't. Storms. Storms. Storms. Humidity. Heat. Bugs. Cicadas. Storms. No Mountains. Far from our Families...especially the kiddos. The Oregon Coast.

We have made some good friends living here. Dennis and Katie. Wes and Abby. And others in our Sunday School class. Dennis and Katie just moved. To Missouri. Counting the days until June when we get to go visit.

Wes and Abby just had a baby a few weeks ago. He is precious. And tiny. And cute.

I miss our friends in the NW. Kat and Jeff, they had a baby in February and I still haven't met him. That makes me sad.

Meow has hit the terrible twos. He just cries. For. No. Reason. Then jumps on the bathroom counter. Then he cries. So, I gp in and he jumps off. He just wants attention.

My niece and nephew are growing like weeds. I wish I could see that.

The cicada bugs are gross. They are loud. Almost like the sound of a distant weed eater. Or a giant rain stick. And they are UGLY. Big black. Long wings. Red eyes. One jumped at me today. I screamed. My poor neighbors.

We had our Sr. recognition on Sunday. Then it hit me...my small group from Westwood are all graduating this year. I am sad to miss that. I miss those girls.

We went and saw Les Miserables this weekend. It was great! I hadn't seen it in 11 years I think. I enjoyed it. Ryan even liked it. Looking forward to convincing Ryan to take me to Wicked this fall, and The Addams Family next year.

Can't wait to see the new Pirates movie. Saw the first one 6 times in the theater, the second 4, and the third twice. We were going to go opening weekend, but I got sick.

We went to the AP awards a little over a week ago. My favorite part was watching other wives show their pride for their husbands who won awards. So proud of my hubby and the hard worker he is.

I feel like we are finally adjusting to being here. Finally feeling settled. And hopefully this summer, my family will get to come visit.

For now, that's it.

My View

Hardly a week goes by when someone doesn't ask me what I do for a living. Sometimes the question is a form of "small talk" sometimes people are actually curious. On a busy Thursday afternoon, I thought I would share with you "what I do" or at least what I have done today.



I sit behind a brown desk - constantly looking at my computer monitor. Above my door which opens to the newsroom, three monitors where I monitor my competition all day long. Truth be told, I sit in here as little as I can. I am constantly checking a computer program we have that provides us with content from the Associated Press. I am a curious person so I check often - every time I sit at my desk. I check Twitter regularly, Facebook as well. I'm always looking at CNN.com and a handful of other websites to see if there is news I don't know about. At the same time, I am answering my phone. Sometimes it's people wanting a job, sometimes it's people wanting me to buy a subscription to their random news service. I get calls about various groups asking us to sponsor them and I get calls from viewers angry about stories we covered. While answering calls, I typically respond to emails. I get between 400 and 600 a day. I'm also looking into the newsroom watching our Assignment Desk. It's amazing how I can tell if something big is happening by body language alone. I look at "producer row" - as our producers scramble to put their shows together. In the time it took me to write that last sentence, someone came into my office to tell me his story fell through. I gave him another idea and he's off and working on it. I worry about our ratings (and they're good right now) - wondering what we can do to get them higher, I am thinking about our open positions - wishing the right people would apply so I can get some of my employees the newsroom the relief they need. I just changed a couple of schedules in anticipation of a new newscast we start soon. I put the paper work together for an employee that starts soon, heard about an employee's dog that has some issues and changed our 6pm lead.



That's my view of the past five minutes and that's what I do...a lot of stuff involving a lot of people and a lot of things which is exactly how I like it.

-Ryan

Friday Funny

When I saw this on the Today Show, well, today. I laughed. Then I found the video. And laughed some more. Only because of how Willard says what he does. Cracks. Me. Up. Well, see for yourself (sorry if you get a commercial first).

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

I like Mom.

Mother's day is coming up! What a great day...we get to celebrate the woman in our life who well, gave us life! I am super lucky that I have a lot of great Mom's in my life.

First you have all the grandmas! My grandma is still alive. And when I married Ryan, I got a Nana, and another grandma! What a blessing!

Then there are the adopted ones, like ZoeAnne Pilger, Una Stonehocker and the newest, Reba Johnson. Two of these women loved Ryan like he was their own son, and me by default! But they truly care for us. We have lived with ZoeAnne. We have laughed with Una. We have been welcomed by Reba. We are so thankful to have these women in our lives.

Of course, there are those women who have been mentors to me. Mom's in a way. Shannon, Mariah, Bri. These women impacted me more than they may ever know. They taught me much about loving the Lord, leadership, and ministry.

But there are three women I especially think about on Mother's day. My Mom. My MIL. And my sis-in-law.

I will start with Shelly! I am super thankful that I have a sister!! She has become a dear friend to me. And she is a wonderful mother to my favorite two kiddos. I love how she keeps us involved in their lives. She's the best "sister"!





Then I have my MIL. Judy. I am pretty lucky. I don't think a lot of people can say that they like their MIL. Let alone, have a relationship with her. The first day I met Judy, I knew I had a new friend. We chatted about books, life and her son! :) Our relationship has grown so much and I am so blessed to have this Godly woman has my Mother-in-Law. She raised two great kids. Of course, I am very partial to one! She raised him to work hard, care for others, and be very generous. She loves people well, takes care of them, and sacrifices for her family. She loves me like I was her own flesh and blood.


And of course there is my Mom. My best friend. I don't know where I would be without her. I learned to be a woman from her. I learned to be a friend. I learned to be a wife. And someday, a mother myself. She has been there for me through everything, and has been a constant support. She has the most gentle spirit. Everyone who meets her knows just how sweet and kind she is. She loves everyone she is contact with, and is slow to judge. She gives of herself. She loves the Lord. And she loves her family.




I couldn't be more blessed. So many amazing women in my life. So many who have been mentors and friends to me.

So, to all the "Mom's" in my life, Happy Mother's Day! I am a better woman because of you.

A Princess....

I think most little girls dream of becoming a princess. We put on tiara's, fancy dresses. We wear our mom's makeup, and walk tall in her high-heeled shoes. We dream of princes, white horses and castles far away. We dream of happy-ever-after.

Yesterday that dream literally came true for one common girl. One girl who won the heart of a prince. I was glued to the tv. I was just as anxious to see the gown of the future Queen of England. My mom asked me why. I said, because it's my generations fairy tale. Princess Catherine is around my age. She married Prince William, who I dreamed of, like many girls my age. She became a princess.

I have been thinking about this a lot. And I have two things running through my head. First, because of my relationship with God, the Creator and Ruler, I am called an heir. A princess. I may not wear England's Crown Jewels, but one day I will wear a crown. I may not be on the arm of Prince William, but I am a daughter of the King! Pretty amazing imagery after watching a beautiful Royal Wedding.

My other thought is the prince part. I am so lucky that two and a half years ago I married my own prince. One who cherishes me and treats me like a princess. One who works hard. Loves others. Gives of himself.

So, as I watch the reply of this beautiful occassion I am reminded that I am a princess. And that I am lucky enough to have married my very own Prince Charming.

Now, enjoying the Happy-Ever-After!

The big 2-8

You would think by the way Ryan likes to celebrate, that my birthday was a milestone one. You know, 30, 40..but nope. I just turned 28 (I am ok saying that, I had someone think I was early 20's the other day...). Ryan planned a huge celebration, a trip to Atlanta. We had the most wonderful time away! We really like Atlanta, at least what we saw. I wanted to share with you a little about our trip...and a few of the 300+ photos we took.

We arrived in Atlanta early Friday afternoon. We quickly made our way to the Georgia Aquarium where Ryan had bought tickets for us to see their new dolphin show. I love dolphins, and he said that this show was better than the ones he saw at SeaWorld as a kid. It was pretty amazing. I wish I could have taken pictures of the dolphins leaning on the edge of the pool, hugging their trainers, or doing flips. We loved it. The aquarium itself is huge.



Across the pavilion is the World of Coca-Cola. Their big museum. It was fun to see Ryan surrounded by Coca-Cola (if you didn't know, he LOVES Diet Pepsi). The best part was their tasting room, they had all their products from around the world. Some were really good, others quite nasty.



We found a delicious little brewery for dinner and made our way to our hotel. We arrived just in time. A big storm was rolling through. We opened a bottle of wine and watched the storm from our 9th floor window. It was fun because we actually were together during a storm, and it wasn't severe in the sense of Tornadoes...at least where we were. And I managed this photo of lightening:



Saturday morning we made our way to Atlantic Station. It was awesome. My birthday gift was a shopping spree, so my very patient husband endured hours of shopping. We had lunch at a favorite restaurant (we have only been in Seattle) but it's the Fox Sports Grill. The afternoon we went down to CNN. Now, this was impressive. But for Ryan and I, a little boring. Ryan just lives that everyday, and I have been in the station enough to not be too impressed with some of the information that they gave. If Ryan wasn't in the news business, it would have been very cool.



The capstone of the day was dinner. Ryan took me to a restaurant called The Sundial. It is on the 72nd floor of one of the hotels downtown. 700 some odd feet up. The view was unbelievable. But to make it even better, it rotates (similar to the Space Needle...just taller). The food was amazing. The view was breathtaking. We made a night of it. Managed to get their before sunset, and stay long after. What a wonderful birthday dinner!







Sunday we went to First Baptist Church Atlanta. The significance? It is the church that Dr. Charles Stanley is the pastor of. It was actually a really great service. I was distracted though by all the cameras (it is broadcasted on tv). We then made our way to Turner Field!! We were heading to a Brave's game! Ryan was worried that our seats wouldn't be very good, but they were great. Right behind home plate, but up higher so we could see everything. The Braves lost (sorry Tiff), but we had a good time!





When we arrived home on Monday (my actuall birthday), Ryan got me a chocolate cake, and some beautiful flowers. We met with some friends and went to PF Changs for dinner.




Ryan asked if this was the best birthday ever...pretty much. It was amazing! We had such a good time, and besides the storm, had wonderful weather! Thank you hubby for the most wonderful birthday!

Changes...

Life is crazy. Things can change so quickly.

First of all, I cut off my hair. It was the longest I have ever had it...that I can remember. I took it all off. Probably a good 6 or 7 inches. I am still getting used to it... but I am liking it more and more. It's so light.

I finally got a job! The past six months my only job has been being a wife. I have loved this job. We both prayed that I would get a job I would love, and that would be a good fit for me. The time has come.

Within a month of moving here, I got plugged into our church. I was volunteering with one of the Pastors who needed help administratively. This was a great time for me, but the time came where they were able to hire someone to help him. Little did I know, me not working in that position, would allow for something else.

The High School Youth Pastor called me not long after this. He asked me if I was at all interested in Youth Ministry or if I had experience. I laughed to myself, and proceeded to tell him that I love youth min, my degree is in that field, and that I used to be on staff at a church. This led to more conversations, and then this past Thursday a job offer. It is a part time position, which is great. I will get to do a variety of things that fit my personality and gifts so well!

I am beyond excited and feel so blessed to be in this position. I have been praying and waiting on the Lord for the green light to get back into youth ministry, and it's here. I cannot wait to start!!

Yahweh

I am not a huge fan of Bill and Gloria Gaither. Not that they aren't great people, but it's just not my thing. But it is Ryan's. He loves the southern gospel music. One of his favorites is the Nashville Homecoming (ironically before we even moved here). Anyways, he got hooked on a song by The Hoppers called "Yahweh". I started to listen to it. It is a pretty great song. With Easter just around the corner I thought I would share it with you.



Here are the lyrics:
Mmm Yahweh, Jesus is coming
In a manger, our Lord is coming
Mmm Yahweh, Jesus is coming
Born in Bethlehem, born in Bethlehem
Mmm Yahweh, Jesus is teaching
In the temple our Lord is teaching
Mmm Yahweh, Jesus is teaching
No one speaks like Him, no no one speaks like Him

Chorus
Hosanna He comes in the form of a man
Jehovah the great God of Abraham
He lived just to die for our sin, Yahweh, for we sing

Mmm Yahweh, Jesus is praying
In the garden, our Lord is praying
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Mmm Yahweh, Jesus is praying
‘Let this pass from me, let this pass from me’
Mmm Yahweh, Jesus is dying
On the cross there, our Lord is dying
Mmm Yahweh, Jesus is dying
Dying for our sin, dying for our sin
Mmm Yahweh, Jesus is buried
In a rich man’s tomb, He is buried
Mmm Yahweh, Jesus is buried
But He will not stay, no He will not stay
Mmm Yahweh, Jesus is rising, our loed is rising
From the grave there our Lord is rising
Mmm Yahweh, Jesus is rising
Now He lives again, yes He lives again

Chorus 2
Hosanna He comes in the form of a man
Jehovah the great God of Abraham
He lived just to die for our sin
He rose from the grave, and He lives again

Tag:
He rose from the grave
He lives again
He arose, He arose
Hallelujah, hallelujah
He lives again
Our Lord lives again

Happy Birthday Meow

Today my little (ok, not really little) furball turns 2!! He is the sweetest, furriest, cuddliest, smartest cat I have ever had. I love his little personality. I love how he greets me at the door when I get home. I love the way he plays with the ring from milk jugs. I love how he carries his stuffed dog in his mouth. I love the way he "clicks" and cries at the birds. I love how he just sits on my shoulder. I love how he snuggles every morning with me.

Happy Birthday Little Guy! I am so glad I have you!

Gluten Free

I have learned so much about Celiac's disease in the past couple of years when my Mom was diagnosed with it. I have learned what to look for in the food, where to shop, and what brands are the best. I have helped my Mom figure out tricks with recipes. My friend Melissa just found out that her 2 year old son has Celiacs. I am so glad they found out this young for him. I know how hard the transition was for my Mom who knew what wheat and gluten tasted like. Anyways, her blog is amazing. It's all about cooking for a GF little boy! And she made home-made goldfish...impressive!

Check it out if you can, especially if you cook GF for a kiddo!

Click here for her blog.

Spring

Spring is creeping into Middle Tennessee. First of all, we are starting to get the Spring Storms! Lucky us. It is sunny and warm. And of course, spring is really only a few weeks away.

I love spring time (of course, not as much as fall). I am a spring baby, so my birthday is always something to look forward to. New life. Flowers. Green. Warmth. Sunshine. My niece's birthday. Easter (man, I love Easter). And baseball.

While I have come to love and appreciate football, I still have a love for baseball. Especially the Mariner's. This is the first year where we can't just drive to a Mariner's game. Usually one of my spring highlights. That is ok, I am trying to convince Ryan we should go watch a Brave's game. He has been wanting to go to Atlanta, why not throw baseball in the mix?

I am so excited for spring (except the storms)!! But Baseball, that is one of the best parts! What are you looking forward to this Spring?

Jazz

When I was just starting seventh grade I was like any other awkward seventh grader. Insecure. Nervous. Unsure of myself.

I remember one night at AWANA a family had some kittens with them. I instantly had to have one. My mom let me. I would get him shortly after that. I was torn between naming him Tazz and Jazz. Somehow, Jazz stuck. And in no time I was holding a tiny ball of orange fur. My tiny ball of orange fur.

As junior high went along, I became even closer to Jazz. As weird as it sounds he was my friend when I felt like I didn't have any. I loved that cat. We remained as close as a cat and girl could be. After I left for college, he would soak up the attention when I would come home.

Jazz would have been 16 in August. But yesterday, he passed away. He had not been himself for a couple of years. He had a tooth pulled and his demeanor was never the same. He had a hard time eating, and my Mom said that is probably how he died.

I was crushed. I am crushed. To some people this is ridiculous, to be sad over a pet. But Jazz was so special to me. And the loss makes me sad.

But I am thankful. Ryan knew this day would come. We both did. That was partially why he got me my little guy, my Meow. So while I am sad that Jazz is no longer with us, I know I still have Meow who is so sweet and loves me a lot.

I will miss my Jazzy. A lot.

Phew..what a whirlwind

I have been MIA the past week or so. That is because the greatest in-laws were here!

But before I get to that, I need to share about my wonderful Valentine! Ryan loves to spoil, and that he did. He bought me a new beautiful trunk for our living room. I have been eyeballing it for a while. Came out with roses dusted in glitter. Took me to dinner at our VDay favorite: PF Changs and got me Dove Chocolate..all I really wanted! This all took place a few days before Vday. I loved it. I love being with Ryan. I am so thankful for my amazing hubby. And Vday is just a sweet reminder of him and our love for each other.

The next the whirlwind began. House cleaning. Of course, I had to have it PERFECT with the inlaws due to arrive that night. I got to work. Then realized that I clogged our disposal. Yuck. So our friend Dave came to the rescue! After that I finished restoring order to my home and we waited anxiously to get to the airport!

Finally Dave and Judy arrived! Yay! Their visit began quickly that night and I feel we never stopped! I saw so much of Tennessee in their week long visit! We went to the Opryland Hotel, and missed the tour of the Grand Ole Opry by two minutes! We spent some time downtown goofing off. We spent a day poking around Historic Franklin and ended up at the Carnton Plantion. Which was used as a field hospital during the Civil War. It was pretty cool.

The following day we went to Cracker Barrel for breakfast and then off to Belle Meade Plantation. By far, one of my favorite sites! An afternoon of relaxing was much needed!

Our journey's continued at the Country Music Hall of Fame. Wow. We then drove around a bunch looking at houses (my FIL is a Real Estate Agent..so this was fun!!!). Ryan and I took them to dinner at the Melting Pot and they loved it! Thursday I surprised my MIL and took her to Homestead Manor for afternoon Tea. It was my first experience as it was hers. We had a great time sipping tea and eating small sandwiches!

Friday we went to an Antique Show which was pretty impressive. After that I had to have them experience Chick-fil-a! It was a hit! Then it was off to The Hermitage: the home of Andrew Jackson! What a beautiful place!!

Their week-long visit ended with breakfast at Loveless Cafe and a trip to the Jack Daniel's Distillery and a drive to Chattanooga!

We sooo loved having them here. It was such a fun experience to share our life here with our family. I can't wait for the rest to come!

The Man I love...

I am so in love. With Ryan. He is just such an amazing man.

He is the hardest worker I know.
He is the most generous man.
He is so random and funny.
He is so sweet and caring.
He spoils me.
He comforts me.
He takes care of me.
He loves me.
He loves Jesus.

Czech Video

While we were at English Camp in the Czech Republic, Ryan was in charge of the video camera. Our friend Daniel put together a video. If you look close enough you can see both Ryan and myself (I did the filming that Ryan is in-dancing!).

The Force

I can't help it. This commercial is just so cute. Everytime I see it, I just feel all warm. It makes me so happy.

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Here is the interview with the boy on the Today Show today!

In sickness and in health...

This past week I have been so sick. Probably the sickest I have been in years. Turns out it was the flu. Type 2. The more serious, long lasting, wont leave you alone strain. Name a symptom, I had it.

To make it worse, I am a big baby when I am sick. I blame my mom. :) Since I was a kid, whenever I would get sick, she would sit with me on the couch and we would watch Beauty and the Beast until I fell asleep. Some things never change. Only this time it was my bed, and the first 4 seasons of FRIENDS. And while my Mom wasn't with me, Ryan was.

Unfortunately he still had to work. But he did manage to get some time off to take me to the doctor..twice, and be home with me. He has been so good to me. He has cleaned the house, changed the sheets on the bed, made dinner, driven all over to get medicine and hunt down a movie. He has been so wonderful at taking care of me.

I am still not feeling great...and Ryan told me today to just rest and take it easy this week. He only cares about me getting better (I think he is tired of cooking!:) ). He has been so great and I just wanted to share how lucky I am to have this man who cares for me so well.

Thanks Ry-I love you!

Fearless

Last week I sat in Ryan's Boss' living room. There were some other couples there. A few of which had moved to Nashville from other states. These wives easily sympathized with my fear of the Tornadoes. As we sat there, we all kept wondering and waiting for word on the storm that was going to appear overnight. I sat there anxious. Wondering, will there be a Tornado with this one? I was almost paralyzed with fear.

On our drive home I began thinking about this more. I am truly truly afraid of the Tornadoes. I know some of you may be laughing. Some thinking, what? Tornadoes are nothing. But to me, they are something. They are something fearful. Something that has kept me from really enjoying Tennessee. My fear is really controlling me. I have tried to ignore it, but then the mention of a storm comes and I feel my heart racing. I feel myself longing to get on a plane and hurry back to Oregon. I start to panic.

All this week on my drives to the Church, I have been hearing songs that talk about being fearless. I know it may not seem like much, but these songs have got me thinking. Thinking about fear.

I should not be afraid. Not because Tornadoes are not a big deal. Or the chances of actually encountering one are slim. But, because I am a child of God. He cares for me. He protects me. He desires the best for me. All through the Bible people are afraid. And God is there to comfort them. I think of the disciples on the boat in the storm. Jesus is just sleeping and they are FREAKING out. I can relate. They go to Jesus. He doesn't criticize them. He doesn't laugh at their fear of the storm. Instead he gets up, and just calms the storm. That is where I am at. I am on that boat. I KNOW that Jesus can calm the storm. I know that he often does. But I am more like those disciples than I often care to admit. I am terrified. And I wonder, even after the storm stopped, were they fearful of the next one? Or was the memory of Jesus calming this one enough for them? I want to be there. I don't want to have the storms in Tennessee keep me from experiencing so much more. I want to enjoy the life that we are living here. I want to enjoy all that Nashville has to offer, without fear of the storm.

So today, I am trying to trust the Lord and allow him to take away the fears in me. But today is easy, there are no tornadoes! :)

Living the Dream

I have to kick myself sometimes. I am sitting in my office living my dream. Those who have known me the longest know I have wanted to work in Television since I was a little kid. My childhood friends remember me drawing TV sets and talking about TV news. I used to only dream I would get to do this and get paid for it.

I love how God works. Just when I want to get down, God reminds me this is what I have wanted and this is what he has made me to do. I am so fortunate, so blessed, so honored...really honored. I don’t know what tomorrow holds or when God will move me in a different direction. Several years ago when I produced my first newscast – and mind you it was terrible…I prayed a prayer of thanks and told God he could move me in a different direction whenever he wants.

Several years later, I still tell the Lord that often. He has blessed me beyond belief. There isn’t a job I think I deserve or think I have earned. Frankly, I am just blessed beyond belief that the Lord has brought me to this place in life. I always view my work as I’m just filling a spot until someone else takes it.

And far superior to any career achievement I will ever have is the great relationship I have with my wife and with my family. Every once in a while, it’s good for a man to remember how blessed he is – and if anyone ever doubted, I don’t take this life for granted. There is reason to live, there is reason to work harder than the people around you, there is reason to love people more and there is reason to share our excitement…because God is choosing to show me favor and I hope my actions will be an example to him.

-Ryan